Tool for marking linoleum and the like



0st. 17, 1939; w, A, FANNlNG 2,176,733

TOOL FOR MARKING LINOLEUM AND THE LIKE Filed May 14, 1957 Patented Oct. 17, 1939 PATENT OFFICE Y, TOOL FOR MARKING LTNOLEUM AND THE LIKE j' 'Wivlbur A. Fanning, Forest Bark, Ill. Application May 14, 1937, serial No. 142,629

, 1 2 Claims. The present invention has to 'do with a device for use in connection with providing linoleum or similar material with an inlay strip or ribbon usually of contrasting color.

,5;- f It is ordinarily the practice to score a line by the use of a straight edge as a guide and then by shifting the straight edge to score a companion line at the desired distance therefrom and parallel thereto. Such practice gives rise to inaccuracy in maintaining parallelism. It has been proposed to employ a tool with two scribing points whereby to score both lines at once and thus insure parallelism. It has also been suggested, in order to vary the width of the inlay,

l5. that theseV 'scribing points be. adjustable as to the distance separating them from each other. Even so, as the tool approaches a transverse wall or other obstruction, if the linoleum be in place onva floor, the contact ofv the tool handle with the obstruction prevents the completion of the lines of scoring, and the lines must be completed as best the operator can, often with resulting misalignment.

My invention goes further than has heretofore been done in providing not only for the adjustment of the scrib-ing points towards and from each other but for th-e maintenance of uniformity of distance separating the points each from its own side of the mounting frame, thus insuring symmetrical relation whether the tool be operated by pushing or pulling with either side in contact with the guiding straight edge.

In marking linoleum, for instance, as a guide for cutting to receive an inlay ribbon, the distance from the margin having been determined, along straight edge is employed as a guide for the scoring or' cutting tool, the latter being pressed in guiding contact with the straight edge as the tool is drawn along the same with the scoring points in pressure Contact with the linoleum. As hereinbefore noted, the direction of operation of the tool cannot be reversed unless the scoring pins, whatever their adjustment as to distance from each other, be maintained equidistant each from its edge of the frame, in which case the direction of travel of the tool can be'` reversed and either pushed or pulled along the straight edge with the resultant lines of scoring f precisely in alignment. Suchis the primary purpose of the present invention.

In order that a thorough understanding may be had of the invention and the manner of its use, a preferred embodiment of the same is hereinaiter described in connection with the accom- .55 panying 'drawing upon which the description is predicated. It is to be understood that various changes in the details 'of construction may be adopted without departure from the essence of the invention, wherefore the description and the drawing are to be taken in an illustrative and 5 not in an unduly limiting sense.

. In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation illustrating a tool embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan with a portion broken away to disclose the interior arrangement;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation;

Fig. 4 is a detail of one form of scoring pin partaking of the nature of a knife; and

Fig. 5 is a top plan of a slight modication.

Having particular reference to the drawing, there is provided a-frame I0 substantially rectangular in shape with guiding sides I I, I2, with a rear side I3, and a front side I4. 'Ihese sides, instead Of being truly rectangular as to outline, may be streamlined or rounded, as indicated in Fig. 1, to permit of slight rocking of the tool whereby to score more or less deeply. The usual Operating handle I5 is attached by means of a. ferrule I6 to the top of the frame and normally extends substantially in a horizontal direction to the rear of the tool which is thereby usually pushed over the surface of the linoleum Il or similar material which is to be scored, as indicated at Ila, along straight lines parallel to the guiding straight edge I8. K

Within the frame about equidistant between the front and rear thereof is journaled a screw by means of the trunnions I9, which trunnions may be squared, as indicated, for the reception of a turning key or provided with any other convenient means for rotating said screw such as a knurled head. One-half of the screw is provided with a right hand thread as at 2D, while the other half as at 2I has a left hand thread. Fixedly mounted within the frame and extending parallel to the screw 2Il-2I are guide rods 22 andv 23. The front side of the frame is open, as indicated at Ida, to accommodate a pair of bars 24 and 25, which bars are threaded respectively 45 upon the screw-halves 20 and 2| equidistant from the center of the frame and equidistant from the two sides I I and I2. These bars 24 and 25 extend preferably beyond the front side of the frame and are recessed upon their inner opposed faces to 50 receive companion scoring pins 26, 2l, the pins being adjustable vertically upon the bars by set screws 28, 29 within Vertical slots 30 of the scoring pin. The operative part of -the scoring pins may be of any desired configuration, whether conical and 25 and the tool may be swung in a circle withF one end of the rod held at the desired center o-fF curvature.

In order to avoid the possibility of a varia tion in the distances between the. parallel scored lines and their distance from the straight edge due to a lateral shifting of the handle I towards and from the straight edge I8, the frame I0,Iin.

stead of having its two sides II and I2 contact" the straight edge I8, maybe. provided! withi bulbous' projections IIa' and I2a projecting laterally' beyond the sides II and I2 and transversely aligned with the scoring pinsrZi` and 21', as shown in. Fig. 5, thus minimizing' and substantially eliminating any irregularities due toy a slight degree of shifting of the handle I5.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that by rotating the screw 20, 2l the bars 24, 25 and the scoring pins 26, 21 are adjusted upon the screw and with reference to the framev whereby to vary their distance apart and thus change the4 wi'dthof' the strip defined by parallel lines, while atthe'sarne time said scoring pins arer maintained eoluidistantY each from its own side of the frame. Consequently whether the side I2 of the frameV be in guiding contact with they straight edge I8 or thetool be reversed in posi tion so that the edge I I is in guiding contact with the straight edge, the lines of scoring will remain at a distance from the straight edge and in perfect alignment with the lines of scoring already impressed upon the material. This enables the tool to be drawn by the operator along the Inaterial until a Wall or other obstruction be reached and then to be reversed and pushed up to the obstruction, the lines of scoring being in perfect alignment before and after reversal of the direction of operation.

Iclaim:

1. In a device of the character set forth, a frame having sides with forward extensions a2V pair of bars slidably guided within the frame, scoring pins mounted on the forward ends of the two bars substantially in line with the frame extensions, means' to maintain the bars in parallel relationship, and means to vary the distance separating the pins from each other while maintaining-said: pins-equidistant each from the guiding extension on its own side of theA frame.

2.In a device of the character set forth, a frame having sides with forward bulbous eXtensionsvfor guiding contact with a straight edge, a screw journaled transversely within the frame with right and left hand threads at the resp-ective sides of the" center, guiding rods mounted on the frame sideson each side of and parallel to the scr'ew,.a pair of bars slidably guided on the rodsv and in' threaded engagement with the screw equidistantrfrom: the sides of the frame, scoring pins mounted on the ends of the two bars beyond the front' of the frame'and in alignment with the bulbousextensions, and means to rotate the screw whereby tof varyl the distance separating the pins from each other While maintaining said pins equidistant each from its own side of the frame.

WILBUR A. FANNING.-

adapted. for guiding contact with a straight edge, Y 

